The fight between mother and son was just beginning.

  Abell's blade shone intensely; his once sharp blade resembled an intense flame blown by the wind, out of control and unpredictable.

  “Woah, what’s that?! I’ve never seen Abell’s sword do this!” Astrid screamed.

  Keeko’s eyes flashed in disbelief as she attempted to hold her ground. The intense power flooded the yard.

  “I thought I understood his Lux... What is this? Is this why Hugo wanted to recruit him.” She thought.

  She glared at Hugo, her look showing she was desperate for answers.

  Hugo purposely ignored her gaze.

  Torin watched in awe. The sheer force radiating from Abell was enough to make him nervous.

  “Hey, Mr. Hugo?” Torin asked.

  Hugo faced him with a smile. “What?”

  “Is Abell going to be okay... he looks like he’s in pain.” He asked.

  Hugo glanced at Abell’s current state.

  “Honestly, I don’t know, but one thing for sure, he’s reached a new level in this state,” he said with a crazed smile.

  “It’s not funny, you stupid luminary. He’s in pain.” Astrid screamed.

  Keeko readied herself for a ferocious attack.

  “It’s clear he doesn’t have full control, and it seems like the blade is wrapping itself around his body. As if he’s one with it.” she thought.

  “This new power means nothing.” She taunted. “Come, try to prove me wrong.”

  No response.

  Abell charged. Fast.

  To him, the world was beginning to blur. Everything outside of his sword and Keeko was nonexistent. His body felt engulfed in flames, but his mind had become one with his blade.

  Then he struck.

  Boom!

  A shockwave rippled through the training yard as he landed a clean hit on Keeko’s hardened forearm. The blow sent Abell backward due to sheer force.

  Keeko gritted her teeth as the residual shockwaves traveled up her arm. She had barely blocked time but kept a strong face.

  “That blow... could’ve injured me badly.”

  She stepped back while Abell regained his composure, contemplating her options.

  “Is this from the sword itself?” She sighed. “I need to end this soon... my body won’t last if this keeps up.”

  Abell was relentless.

  His next attack came before she could think. A rapid side strike came at her fast, forcing her to pivot and narrowly avoid the tip of his blade. However, from the edge of the blade, a projectile-like slash emerged.

  Keeko had no choice but to block this head-on. The impact was small, but it was enough to distract her so that Abell could temporarily move in.

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  He lunged again; his stance was raw, inefficient, and lethal. Keeko ducked, sidestepping his next blow, but she could feel it. The weight of his attacks was increasing, as was her own body.

  “My veil is fading... I need to hurry.”

  Astrid looked in disbelief; she couldn’t believe what she was witnessing. While Torin was engrossed in the constant action

  “Her veil is fading,” he said.

  “Yes, I wonder what’s going to happen now,” Hugo said.

  Abell’s breaths became erratic as he tightened his grip on his weapon. His body was burning from the inside out, and he felt like his luminous orb was spinning rapidly.

  “Must… keep attacking… gotta win… it’s important.”

  He could barely hear himself think, but his will to win was more important to him than his body.

  Each strike drained so much out of his body, but his sword shone brightly with energy.

  While his movements were powerful, he had lost all discipline. He was swinging with everything he had, his body screaming from the effort, but he had no control.

  Keeko thought. “If this continues, he’ll burn himself out—or worse.”

  She inhaled deeply, then made her decision.

  Keeko decided to go on the offensive. Her form shifted from a defensive one to an offensive one.

  “Sorry, Abell.”

  Her strikes became ruthless; her second blow broke his guard, causing his arms to flail and dropping his blade. Then, the rest of her strikes aimed at his weak spots—his balance, breathing, and control.

  Abell felt every one of them.

  His body trembled from the sheer force, but he refused to lose.

  “No, not yet!” He shouted.

  He reached for his blade; however, Keeko grabbed his arm and drove a knee into his ribs.

  Crack!

  “Abell, no.” Astrid cried out

  He gasped for air as he staggered backward, barely managing to stay on his feet.

  Keeko rushed him again.

  Another punch—this time right to his stomach.

  He rolled over, coughing violently, but his body still felt as if it were on fire. Keeko walked over to him, about to deliver the final blow.

  Abell refused to stay down.

  His breath was ragged, but He forced himself to his feet, unsteady but determined.

  Then—a glimmer

  A faint glow emerged from his arm, the same energy that once belonged to his sword.

  Torin took a step forward. “His arm is glowing…”

  Hugo’s smirk twitched, his gaze sharpening.

  Keeko’s lips tightened. She knew this was his last push.

  “Abell… just stop.” Astrid barely whispered.

  But he didn’t.

  Abell gritted his teeth, his fist clenching tight. His body was failing, but his will was still screaming.

  “One more.”

  “I just need one more hit.”

  His feet dug into the dirt as He pushed forward, drawing everything he had left into a final punch.

  Keeko exhaled.

  “Stubborn idiot.”

  She didn’t dodge at first—she let him believe for a fraction of a second that he could land it.

  Then—she sidestepped.

  Before Abell could recover, her fist crashed into his chest.

  BOOM.

  The impact sent a sharp crack through the air.

  Abell’s body lifted off the ground. Then—he hit the dirt, rolling to a stop.

  His arm twitched once. The glow flickered—then died out.

  His sword was gone.

  His strength was gone.

  Keeko stood over him, exhaling as she rolled out her shoulders. It was over.

  Keeko’s veil dissipated, causing her to fall to the ground momentarily.

  Abell played motionless, heavily breathing. His fingers twisted as if he were calling for his weapon, but nothing came.

  “No...”

  His body gave out before his mind.

  Keeko walked over to him, kneeling beside him. She didn’t speak, but she placed a hand on his face.

  “You’ve done well, Abell.”

  He attempted to move away from her, wanting to continue the battle. But could only wiggle around.

  Keeko exhaled, shaking her head.

  “You’ve passed Abell. You’re ready to leave and start your journey.”

  Abell looked at her, barely able to process her words, his emotions raw.

  Then, unexpectedly, Keeko leaned down, wrapping her arms around him in a firm, reassuring hug.

  “You did great, Abell.”

  For the first time since the fight started, Abell didn’t resist.

  His mind drifted into unconsciousness, but a single thought lingered in his heart:

  “I need to be stronger.”